Patents by Inventor Barry J. Linnett

Barry J. Linnett has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Software platform having a real world interface with animated characters
    Patent number: 6388665
    Abstract: A software development platform generate a user interface that adopts a real world metaphor. In particular, the user interface appears to a user as containing rooms of a home. The user can specify what rooms are to be included in the home and can specify the style of the appearance of the rooms of the home. The user interface serves as a vehicle for the user to invoke applications and perform tasks. The user interface also generates a personal character for each user. The personal character is an animated guide that helps to assist the user in using the computer. Specialized characters may also be provided to perform specialized tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Barry J. Linnett, Karen E. Fries, Lawrence H. Powelson
  • Audio-visual user interface controls
    Patent number: 5801692
    Abstract: Audio-visual user interface controls provide audio and a visual feedback in response to user input events in a graphical user interface environment of a computer. A variety of audio and visual responses of a control assist the user in understanding its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Simon C. Muzio, Randall R. Omel, Barry J. Linnett
  • Software platform having a real world interface with animated characters
    Patent number: 5682469
    Abstract: A software development platform generates a user interface that adopts a real world metaphor. In particular, the user interface appears to a user as containing rooms of a home. The user can specify what rooms are to be included in the home and can specify the style of the appearance of the rooms of the home. The user interface serves as a vehicle for the user to invoke applications and perform tasks. The user interface also generates a personal character for each user. The personal character is an animated guide that helps to assist the user in using the computer. Specialized characters may also be provided to perform specialized tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Barry J. Linnett, Karen E. Fries, Lawrence H. Powelson
  • Method and system for controlling the execution of an application program
    Patent number: 5301326
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the execution of an application program to effect the performing of a specialized task is provided. In preferred embodiments, an interface computer program gathers status information from the application computer program, collects user input relating to the specialized task, generates commands to send to the application program, and sends the commands to the application program to effect the execution of the specialized task. The interface computer program communicates with the application computer program preferably through the dynamic data exchange of Windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Barry J. Linnett, Ford Martin